What years did you attend WAA?
I started Woodlawn in 2011 at the age of 8 years old. I instantly fell in love with theatre and performance, but more in love with the version of myself that I became: confident, loving and understanding of people.
What program(s) did you participate in at WAA?
I spent 10 years in dance lessons, voice lessons and full productions.
How did WAA make a lasting impression and impact on you?
I love the arts and I love the people in them. Woodlawn gave me the confidence as a performer, the opportunities as an inspiring educator, and the ability to choose my own career path with the intensive education and training I received.
What areas of study did you pursue after your time at WAA?
After I graduated from the elementary and middle programs, I got the opportunity to intern and later instruct intro classes of theater at Woodlawn. Woodlawn graciously saw my potential and gave me the opportunities to confirm that my passion was in teaching. I later went on to be a co-founder of Penguin Project of the Sauk Valley, a Woodlawn partnership for children with special needs to get involved in the arts, before moving out of the state.
What is your current job/career?
After my time at Woodlawn I graduated from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee with a degree in English and Education with a focus on Urban Education and Restorative Practices. I went on to work in regional theatres, libraries, schools and other non-profit programs. I taught in six different schools during my time there, including teaching music and literacy classes to infants-preschoolers. My love for arts and education turned into a passion, and I am now a certified high school English teacher in downtown Milwaukee.
I am proud to say that I am in my first year of teaching with my certification, and have debuted the first performing arts program in a Title I school. I teach ninth and 10th grade English, along with the brand new classes of drama and speech, with inner-city students. Along with that, I am making curricula for creative writing and journalism. My students are consistently learning personal growth skills in the performing arts program, which ties directly into why I fell in love with education and English: to give power to words, voices, and empower students to share their own stories.
On top of that, I am a writer. I have my own writing blog and have been published in a literary magazine.
Do you feel that your time at WAA had an impact on your current position/career path?
Woodlawn allowed me to explore both experiences as a performer and educator, and helped me find my passion of urban education. My long-term goal is to teach in restoration education, helping children and adults who are going back to school after a hiatus to get their education.
